Falling Block Works Testing a .225 Winchester

The .225 Winchester test rifle was built from a loose Falling Block Works action. A 26-inch varmint barrel was added and the custom stockwork was conducted by a friend using gorgeous American walnut.

- Patrick Meitin

PM-3

I’ve always found single-shot rifles innately elegant and esthetically pleasing, especially the falling block design. The falling block includes a metal breechblock that rides in vertical grooves cut into the rifle action that is manipulated by a swinging underlever. Pulling the underlever tightly against the action lifts the sliding breechblock into place and seals the chamber for firing. Pull the underlever downward and the breechblock is lowered and the chamber is exposed to allow ejection/ extraction of the fired case and shoving the next round home. It is a simple but ultra-stout arrangement. Engaging the breechblock creates a solid “wall” of steel that doesn’t require lugs to lock the chamber solidly. It is an action type also used in heavy artillery firing shells as big as a man’s leg.

Famous falling-block actions include the American Sharps, Scottish Farquharson, 1890 Stevens, Winchester Model 1885 High Wall and the Ruger No. 1 (and similar pivoting-block rifles like Martinis and Ballards), just to offer some easy examples. Falling-block rifles served many militaries around the world until being replaced by faster-cycling bolt actions prior to World War I. For me, most of all they bring to mind buffalo hunters of frontier days.